Chapter 141: Off to Find a Tomb (Monthly Ticket Bonus 34)

The trees kept receding, and the lights grew more numerous, colorful and varied.

Amidst the flickering light, a halo of radiance seemed to be sprinkled across Lin Sicheng's face.

Ye Anning sat in the back row, her mind replaying what her aunt had said that night: "Ye Anning, Lin Sicheng is glowing."

And also, just now: "Lin Sicheng, it costs one hundred and twenty thousand?"

"I know. Spending a bit is better than letting it flow into the black market."

The problem is, this isn't like the Xu Weili Documents, and even less like the Rhino Horn Cup, where one could cooperate with some unit for Artifact Research. As Lin Sicheng said, this kind of object should represent a major vessel of ancient ritual systems, so it can only be given to a Museum.

But one hundred and twenty thousand... her uncle's monthly salary was only a little over two thousand.

All the way home, Ye Anning kept thinking about this problem, right up until she returned home.

Wang Qi Zhi was writing and drawing in the living room, Dan Wangshu sat by his side keeping him company, and Wang Youjian was in the bedroom doing homework.

Ye Anning entered the door, and Dan Wangshu looked up: "Have you eaten?"

"I have, Lin Sicheng and I ate together!"

"Oh, then go wash up, you're covered in dirt!"

Ye Anning nodded, went into the bedroom, and then into the bathroom.

About half an hour later, she came out wiping her hair. Seeing Wang Qi Zhi and Dan Wangshu chatting, she casually brought it up:

"Uncle, Lin Sicheng bought a Han Dynasty wooden slip and a box today, and spent one hundred and fifty thousand!"

The couple paused.

Dan Wangshu was still thinking: Did Lin Sicheng pick up another bargain?

It felt like, unless Lin Sicheng didn't go out, as long as he went out, he would more or less bring back some treasure.

And it was either incredibly valuable or had incredible historical value. Like this time, Han Dynasty slips?

Wang Qi Zhi's eyes, however, lit up: "What content is written on them?"

"He said it's a list of funeral offerings, similar to an account book. But that box is inlaid with jade inside and out; Lin Sicheng said it should be a Western Han Dynasty Jade Wenming."

Wang Qi Zhi froze: What is that, Jade Wenming?

Lin Sicheng, you are getting better and better at picking things up. National treasures one after another?

He suddenly put down his pen: "It's jade?"

"Yes, jade."

"Whose is it?"

"Lin Sicheng said it's not clear yet!"

Wang Qi Zhi shook his head decisively: Impossible.

When an emperor or empress is buried, the funeral list must be on Jade Slips. Only when a high official is buried would they use wooden slips.

And the Jade Wenming bestowed upon officials by Western Han emperors can be counted on two hands. As long as Lin Sicheng looks at the funeral list and counts the quantity and type of imperial-bestowed burial objects, he would know what the regulations were.

From that, he could infer what official position the owner held during their lifetime, and subsequently, who the owner was.

But why hide it from Ye Anning?

It couldn't be that this kid wasn't planning on doing anything good again, just like that time he went to Hangzhou?

Seeing Wang Qi Zhi frowning, Dan Wangshu poked him with her finger: "Jade Wenming, what is that?"

"After a Han Dynasty emperor died, it was a jade case that covered the head!" Wang Qi Zhi gestured, "Like a box, with a Bronze Mirror embedded in the top, meaning 'using the mirror to suppress the soul and guide it to ascend to heaven'..."

"Although this one is jade, it shouldn't be the emperor's, because the funeral list used wooden slips. I estimate it should be some high official, like Wei Qing or Huo Guang?"

Dan Wangshu suddenly realized: "It must be rare, no wonder I have no impression of it?"

"Rare? More than that. Between the Book of Han and the Records of the Grand Historian, there are only about a dozen recorded in history. If Lin Sicheng isn't mistaken, this should be the first Jade Wenming unearthed to date. Digging up a Han Tripod wouldn't even be as significant as this."

Dan Wangshu was stunned: "Then doesn't that mean it can't be kept in a private collection?"

Wang Qi Zhi nodded: "It has non-replicable scarcity: it is the only one in the world, a unique piece among unique pieces."

"It has highly typical representativeness: reflecting the Western Han burial ritual system. And it has major historical testimonial significance: directly related to figures who changed the course of history... It's a bona fide First-Class Cultural Relic, how could it be kept in a private collection?"

"It really can't be kept," Ye Anning sighed: "Lin Sicheng also said it can only be given to a Museum. But it's worth giving; at least it's better than flowing into the black market and not knowing where it ends up."

Suddenly, Dan Wangshu's eyes began to glow, and Ye Anning had a similar look.

Wang Qi Zhi watched them, saying nothing.

Such expressions appeared more and more frequently on these two women's faces. Whenever this happened, Wang Qi Zhi would have a thought: How are these two women regressing as they get older?

It feels like whenever Lin Sicheng is mentioned, they both act foolish?

Dan Wangshu is certainly not foolish, and Ye Anning is even less so. From childhood to adulthood, she has matched wits with her uncle, and they were evenly matched.

But why do they think that the "donation" Lin Sicheng spoke of is the kind where he wants absolutely no benefit and is purely sacrificial?

Because of their affection for him, they are too emotional: these two people only thought about Lin Sicheng spending one hundred and twenty thousand, but never thought about whether this object still has hidden value?

Just like when Lin Sicheng returned that eighty-thousand-yuan Bronze Fish to the Grave Robber, and the Grave Robber found him the Xu Weili Documents worth tens or hundreds of billions.

It's the same principle: just the title of a National Level intangible cultural heritage inheritor is worth more than ten times one hundred and twenty thousand.

Look, a First-Class Cultural Relic, a national treasure among national treasures—with such a heavy gift, even if the Museum wanted to refuse, wouldn't they be too embarrassed to say it out loud immediately?

Of course, without this box, the Provincial Museum wouldn't refuse either, because Lin Sicheng's level is truly high. The significance and value of his Tang Dynasty Gold and Silver Craftsmanship restoration technology are also heavy enough.

But wouldn't the cooperative relationship between the two sides be more stable because of this?

Secretly sighing, he took out his phone again.

Dan Wangshu glanced at him: "It's so late, you're still calling Lin Sicheng? Can't you ask tomorrow?"

"You don't understand!" Wang Qi Zhi waved his hand, "I have a gut feeling this kid isn't up to anything good."

Dan Wangshu scoffed: "Gut feeling?"

Wang Qi Zhi ignored her and continued to dial. But it rang for a long time: "Sorry, the number you have dialed is not answering!"

"Huh?"

Wang Qi Zhi was stunned: Why would this kid hide this from Ye Anning?

But that shouldn't be.

This isn't like that time they went to Hangzhou; Lin Sicheng wouldn't go so far as to guard against his own teacher, would he?

Wang Qi Zhi thought for a moment, then called Gu Ming.

It went through, but the first time, it wasn't answered.

He called a second time, the call was hung up, and then Lin Sicheng called back: "Teacher!"

Wang Qi Zhi got straight to the point: "Lin Sicheng, where are you?"

"Nowhere, just bored, so I came out for a stroll with Gu Ming!"

"Heh," Wang Qi Zhi sneered, "Lin Sicheng, you'd better tell the truth..."

But before he could finish: "Coo-coo~ Coo-coo~"

Huh, what kind of bird is that?

An owl?

But in the city, where would you find something like that?

Wang Qi Zhi was startled for a moment and stood up with a "whoosh": "Lin Sicheng, where are you?"

There was silence on the phone for a long while: "Chang'an District, the place where we bought things during the day."

Bullshit.

Owls are rarely seen in the city, and they aren't common in the Xie either.

Furthermore, the environment where he was speaking was very open, and the sound of leaves was so loud and dense; nine times out of ten, they were out in the wilderness.

Wang Qi Zhi let out a breath: "Lin Sicheng, whose is the Jade Wenming that Ye Anning mentioned!"

There was silence on the phone again for a long while: "Zhang Anshi's!"

As expected?

No wonder he wanted to hide it from Ye Anning? This dog, he went looking for a tomb...

"Lin Sicheng, you're in Du Yi (Duling), right?" Wang Qi Zhi gritted his teeth and sneered: "You've learned quite a lot, haven't you?"

There was a pause on the phone again: "Teacher, it's not just me and Gu Ming. I invited the old person who sold me things during the day, and I asked her to hire a guide for us..."

"Heh, a guide?"

A local Grave Robber from Chang'an, right?

Lin Sicheng, are you getting better and better at blending in?

Wang Qi Zhi sneered again: "Lin Sicheng, are you coming back, or should I come over there?"

Continued silence, for a long while: "Teacher, I'm coming back!"

"Good, call me when you get home!"

The call ended, and Lin Sicheng glared at Gu Ming: "I didn't hear it, and you didn't hear it either?"

"Professor Wang is just Professor Wang, what are you being a coward for?"

Now look, the secret's out, isn't it?

Gu Ming hung his head and didn't make a sound.

It was truly because Ye Anning had left such a deep impression on him; he felt that whatever he was thinking, Ye Anning could see through it at a glance.

Lin Sicheng also frequently reminded him to be more respectful when seeing Professor Wang and to play fewer tricks. That gave Gu Ming a comparison: that Professor Wang must be more formidable than Ye Anning.

Moreover, they really weren't doing anything good, so when the phone rang, his heart started to panic; how could he dare to answer it?

As a result, it was a case of "the thief protesting his innocence," and Wang Qi Zhi could naturally guess that the two were together. And they definitely weren't doing anything good...

Lin Sicheng looked up: the sky was clear for ten thousand miles, the stars filled the sky; it was a rare, good night.

But what a pity.

He sighed: "Let's go!"

Gu Ming looked dejected, picked up the box, and followed behind Lin Sicheng.

They went down the earthen mound, got into the Santana by the road, and Lin Sicheng took out his wallet and gave two hundred to the old person and the man sitting in the back seat each: "That's all for today, we'll come again another day!"

The two hurriedly agreed.

This money was earned easily: they just sat in the car and waited for a while, not even half an hour?